By Ed Barillas- Staff Writer Diabetes has an effect on more than 23 million Americans with 90 % of them having type 2 diabetes. ...

By Ed Barillas- Staff Writer

Diabetes has an effect on more than 23 million Americans with 90 % of them having type 2 diabetes. Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of disease in men and women 2007. So any tips and advice is great and much needed to keep one healthy and on the right path and early detection can save one may headaches in the future. Warning signs may range from dehydration, frequent urination, bruises and cuts that take longer than usual to heal (more than a few days), numbness in your fingertips or toes, slowly degrading eyesight, limbs going to sleep and a needle sensation in various parts of the body. The clothing that you wear especially when you sleep can have a big influence also since diabetes and tight clothing will have an affects your blood flow through your body. When you are resting your blood flow slows down so this is a crucial time to watch out for. Place close attention to your shoulders, neck, elbows, knees, ankles and waist since these areas are where your clothes can bind and cause a cut off in your circulation. It is also advisable for men to wear boxers instead of briefs as you will have more blood circulation.

Your diet is a very important to your health also so be very aware as to what you eat and snack on. Remember that the key to a diabetic’s diet is to eat in moderation, sticking to regular meal times and consuming a large variety of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Take some time to read the labels when out shopping and place close attention to diet drinks and diet desserts boosting healthy ingredients since usually these have a greater amount of added sweeteners in these and those are defitnetly not good for you or anyone else for that matter. Also use wisdom when eating sweets as you can still enjoy a small serving of your favorite dessert every now and then always in moderation and try to stick to natural sweetened treats like fresh fruits as these are more easily absorbed and efficiently used by your body.

Many people have said that a high protein diet for a diabetic is the best when in fact studies have shown that eating too much protein, especially protein from animals, may cause insulin resistance which is an important factor in diabetes. Do note that a healthy diet must include, protein, fats and carbohydrates which our body’s desperately need. Another one of the keys to a healthy diabetic diet is to eat foods that can help your body regulate your blood sugar level. For example oatmeal is awesome as it helps control your blood sugar level even though it’s a carbohydrate; it slows down your digestion and will not raise your blood sugar level as fast because of its high soluble fiber content. Also this soluble fiber can help in weight loss as it helps in keeping us fuller longer and if you can reduce your weight you can improve the glucose level in your body as well. Some vegetables to eat can to also control your blood sugar level can include green beans, spinach and broccoli as they are also high in fiber and low in carbohydrates. Keep in mind that some foods like white bread can be converted right away to blood sugar and can cause a quick spike and other foods like brown rice are digested by your body slower which can cause a gentler and lower rise in your blood sugar level.

All said and done with a properly maintained and moderated diet you can certainly enjoy good quality of life, good foods and many good years ahead of you, just remember, everything in moderation.